Even with things slowly opening again in some places, we\u2019re likely stuck in this quasi-limbo until a safe vaccine is widely available and administered. So for many people, especially seniors, our homes have become where we spend the vast majority of our time. They\u2019re our restaurants, movie theaters, beauty salons, and workplaces.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BDI_6103_Compact_Desk_Charcoal__Satin_Nickel_750.jpg\")
When space for a home office is at a premium, incorporating furniture that maximizes features in a compact design allows you to make the most of your workspace. Photo: courtesy of BDI<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n Early in the pandemic, the most immediate and dramatic shift was the need for home office spaces to meet the sudden demand for work-from-home (WFH) and remote learning environments.<\/p>\n Even post-pandemic, the way that people work will likely shift, and there’s no sign that they’ll be returning to the old way of doing business anytime soon. In fact, consumer buying trends show that this trend may be here to stay.<\/p>\n Large companies such as Adobe, Amazon, Microsoft, and others say they will make some WFH positions long-term or even permanent.<\/p>\n With more and more people continuing to work later in life, the WFH recommendations have forced even seniors to reevaluate their home office spaces or lack thereof. In recent months, the key to working from home has been creating workspaces where there was no space.<\/p>\n But as people adapt to this new normal, they are now searching for more permanent solutions, translating to an investment in high-quality home office furniture and d\u00e9cor that is both functional and pleasing to the eye.<\/p>\n So what is driving consumers’ purchases, and what should you consider before acquiring new office furniture?<\/p>\n Your home office should be an extension of your own personal style and should match with the aesthetics of your interior decor. Photo: courtesy of BDI<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n Not everyone has the room for a dedicated home office: the new corner office may be the corner of your bedroom. Smaller-scale desks and writing tables are not only a space-saving solution, but they are also an economical way to make the most use of available space.<\/p>\n However, if you have the space and the budget, an upgrade to a modern, electronically powered standing desk could provide your home office with a unique combination of function and style that promotes healthy activities while working.<\/p>\n With sometimes multiple people in a household working from home, it’s understandable that not everyone may get their own dedicated workspace. For this reason, there’s been a surge in small and mobile laptop tables that allow people to work productively anywhere in the home.<\/p>\n Also, modular office furniture can turn normal shelves and cabinets into an adjustable office system that can be customized to fit your situation, your space, and your needs.<\/p>\n Modular and movable furniture, such as BDI\u2019s Milo Laptop Table, allows you to create workspaces from anywhere in the home. Photo courtesy of BDI.<\/p><\/div>\n As people age, it sometimes becomes more difficult to be comfortable using regular household and office furniture. Incorporating furniture with universal design considerations can help prevent accidents, increase comfort and safety, and enhance a person\u2019s independence.<\/p>\n Depending on your situation and needs, you might consider universal design products created with seniors in mind. These solutions could potentially improve your daily life and enable a work-from-home scenario.<\/p>\n Technology has shifted what consumers need from home offices. However, for an efficient and organized home office, consumers still need integrated storage for supplies and accessories, especially to reduce clutter in small spaces.<\/p>\n And as we all know, more technology means more cables and cords. Look for desks and other office furniture with built-in wire management to keep your workspace clean and organized.<\/p>\n Even with today\u2019s wireless and digital technologies, most offices still require furniture with features that allow for filing, storage, and organization. Photo courtesy of BDI<\/a>.<\/p><\/div>\n The home office aesthetic is distinctly different from that of the corporate world. In your typical corporate space, you may spend most of your workdays in a cookie-cutter cube farm. Yet the consumer typically demands greater style when it comes to the home office, so fine details like richly finished wood surfaces, scratch- and glare-resistant desktops, and premium hardware are expected.<\/p>\n Your home office gives you the chance to create a space that better fits your personality while also blending into your home’s decor. For those still working, these spaces should carry the sophistication deserving of a seniority status well earned. A home office is also an important hub for managing and organizing the family\u2019s finances, keeping files, and planning your retirement years for retired workers.<\/p>\n While we eagerly look forward to emerging from this pandemic, now is a great time to evaluate your home office space. Whether you continue to work well into your retirement years or start enjoying the fruits of your labor, you\u2019ll have a functional and aesthetically pleasing space to call your home (office) for years to come.<\/p>\n Ideas for your personal work space<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[134,135],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10744","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-winter-2021","category-winter-2021-features"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10744","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10744"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10744\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11116,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10744\/revisions\/11116"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10744"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10744"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10744"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Centro_Lift_Desk_6451_BDI_standing_desk_v2b_500.jpg\")
Space Matters<\/h3>\n
Versatility Counts<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BDI_milo_media_table_1055_TWL_room-750.jpg\")
Consider Universal Design Solutions<\/h3>\n
Features are Important<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/healthyaging.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Format_Office_BDI_3_750.jpg\")
Aesthetics Matter<\/h3>\n
Dave Adams is vice president of marketing of BDI, a premier designer and manufacturer of innovative home furnishings. Visit them at bdiusa.com<\/a>.<\/h5>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"